Recruitment agency Adecco, which has seven branches in Kent including one in Maidstone, has scooped gold by winning the contract to supply staff to run the 2012 Olympic Games.

At a time of mass layoffs across the financial and retail sector, the latest news is a reminder that Kent is set to benefit from Olympic-related job gains over the next three years.

Thousands of people, many from Kent and Medway, will be needed in the run-up to the sporting extravaganza.

Adecco Group UK and Ireland won the bid to become the exclusive Recruitment Services Supplier to the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG).

The world’s biggest staffing agency will be responsible for LOCOG’s permanent and temporary recruitment between now and 2012. Adecco will also support LOCOG’s staff in preparing for the next stage of their careers following the conclusion of the Games.

It is welcome news for Adecco’s branches in Ashford, Bromley, Canterbury, Chatham, Dartford, Maidstone and Broadstairs. With preparations for the Games moving apace, LOCOG is set to double in size in 2009 and will have a workforce in the thousands in 2012.

"The quality of the people we hire will have a direct impact on the success of the games," London 2012 chairman Sebastian Coe said.

"2009 will see LOCOG go through a number of changes as we start to move from our planning phase to delivery phase – we will double in size this year and Adecco working in partnership with our own HR team will ensure we hire the right people in the right roles."

Adecco also works with the International Olympic Committee on the Athletes’ Career Programme, which supports Olympic and Paralympic athletes’ transition into work after competition.

Catherine King, chief executive officer, Adecco Group UK and Ireland, said: "London 2012 will provide us with the unique opportunity to showcase what we do from start to finish and to demonstrate our expertise in attracting and selecting the substantial workforce who will be delivering these unique world events."

The Olympic Games will be held in London from July 27 to August 12, 2012, followed by the Paralympic Games from August 29 to September 9.

Adecco also sponsored the summer Olympics in Sydney 2000, the Commonwealth Games 2002 and the winter Olympics in Turin 2006.

The company joins chocolate maker Cadbury and financial services firm Deloitte as so-called two-tier sponsors